Plug-in van grant extended until 2026
The UK government has extended the plug-in van grant for another year as part of efforts to boost electric vehicle uptake.
An extra £120 million has been set aside for the grant as part of a £2.3 billion package to support motorists transition to zero emission vehicles.
The package also includes removing extra training requirements associated with heavier electric vans, extending the plug-in motorbike grant, and raising the price cap on vehicles eligible for the plug-in wheelchair accessible vehicle grant.
The plug-in van grant was introduced in 2012 and has supported the purchase of 80,000 electric and other zero emission vans. It offers businesses and individuals up to £2,500 towards the cost of vans up to 2.5 tonnes, and up to £5,000 for large vans up to 4.25 tonnes.
The Department for Transport said it would further help the shift to electric vans by cutting red tape around training. Currently, drivers can drive electric vans up to 3.5 tonnes on a standard Category B licence but require an additional five hours of training to drive vans up to 4.25 tonnes. This requirement is being removed to reflect the fact that electric vans are heavier than petrol or diesel equivalents, despite being the same size.
Among the other measures announced, the Plug-in wheelchair accessible vehicle grant cap is being increased from £35,000 to £50,000, to give consumers a wider choice of vehicle. The £500 electric motorbike grant is also being extended until April 2026.
The plug-in taxi grant, due to run out in April, has not been extended in its existing form but the DfT said it would offer grants of up to £4,000 for the purchase of zero emission black cabs among other vehicles.
Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, commented: “From van drivers and businesses, to drivers with accessibility needs, bikers and cabbies, today we are making it easier, faster and cheaper for people to switch to electric vehicles.
“By making the transition to zero emissions a success, we’re helping to drive growth all over the UK, putting more money in people’s pockets and rebuilding Britain to deliver our ‘Plan for Change’.”
